BaL 22.02.25 - Bizet: L'Arlesienne Suites

[Pulcinella]

1500
Building a Library
Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite version of Bizet's L'Arlesienne Suites

Georges Bizet composed incidental music to Alphonse Daudet's drama, L'Arlésienne, The Girl from Arles. It was first performed in 1872 at the Théâtre du Vaudeville in Paris. The premiere was a failure and Daudet remarked: "It was a resounding flop amid the prettiest music in the world, silk and velvet costumes, and comic opera scenery. I came out of there discouraged, still hearing the silly laughter caused by the emotional scenes." The main pieces of the incidental music are most often heard in the form of two suites for full orchestra; and they have become some of Bizet's most popular compositions.

Suites 1 and 2 availability listed here:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/78751--bizet-larlesienne-suites-1-2/browse

Suite 1 availability here:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/40114--bizet-larlesienne-suite-no-1/browse

Suite 2 availability here:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/works/3847--bizet-larlesienne-suite-no-2/browse

Recommended version:
Les Musiciens du Louvre
Chœur de l’opéra de Lyon
Marc Minkowski (conductor)
Naïve V5130

[smittims]

Beecham for me. But there have been so many delightful recordings, from Sidney Beer's Decca 78s to Edouard van Beinum to (name your choice...).

I was reminded of te excellence of Bizet's art yesterday listening to Ansermet conducting Jeux d'enfants. How sad that he did not live to see the huge popularity of his music.

[Pulcinella]

Beecham for me. But there have been so many delightful recordings, from Sidney Beer's Decca 78s to Edouard van Beinum to (name your choice...).

I was reminded of te excellence of Bizet's art yesterday listening to Ansermet conducting Jeux d'enfants. How sad that he did not live to see the huge popularity of his music.

It's Ansermet here (the only set on the shelves), in the big Decca Ansermet French music box.

[Wolfram]

Abbado was the winner back in 2011; it’s the only recording I have. Jeremy Sams will have to be pretty persuasive about his chosen version and the piece itself to lure me into buying another.

[MickyD]

Christopher Hogwood made an interesting disc of the original suite with the St Paul's Chamber Orchestra, coupled with Gounod then a second time around with the Kammerorkestra Basle, coupled with Strauss's Bourgeois Gentilhomme suite. Worth investigation.

[cloughie]

Beecham for me. But there have been so many delightful recordings, from Sidney Beer's Decca 78s to Edouard van Beinum to (name your choice...).

I was reminded of te excellence of Bizet's art yesterday listening to Ansermet conducting Jeux d'enfants. How sad that he did not live to see the huge popularity of his music.

Fondly remember Jean Morel on RCA Victrola now on Eloquence!

[richardfinegold]

Delightful music. Has there ever been a bad recording? My first was Stokie and the National Philharmonic coupled with Carmen Suites, one of those LPs played to vinyl erosion. Paul Paray is a favorite conductor and usually a go to in French Romantic Music but he is just a bit to quick to be a favorite.
There should be a special sub category for the final Farandole which is a frequent encore

[Barbirollians]

Beecham and Stokowski . There was a very slick Dutoit version on Decca but it lacked the charm of the other two.

[MickyD]

Beecham and Stokowski . There was a very slick Dutoit version on Decca but it lacked the charm of the other two.

Yes, I have that. As ever with the Decca team, the sound is glorious.

[Barbirollians]

Yes, I have that. As ever with the Decca team, the sound is glorious.

Agreed about the sound even though I only ever had it on cassette.

Did Haitink ever record them ? His Symphony in C is marvellous.

[gradus]

The only one I've got is Beecham and it's splendid.

[Sir Velo]

For a truly authentic Gallicperformance of this repertoire one shouldn't look beyond Les Musiciens du Louvre/Minkowski. One feels as if they have just stepped into the heat filled streets of Provence. Minkowski has a real feel for how this music should go, and the orchestra, particularly the wind principals are sans pareil. Beecham is ruled out of court for me in this one by the elderly sound.

[smittims]

Goodness, if you think the soundof the Beecham recordig is 'elderly' Sir Velo, I'm afraid you'd get no pleasure from Beinum or Beer, or any of the older versions which I return to frequently with great pleasure. Do try to listen to historical reordings. I'm sure you are missing a treat.

[Sir Velo]

I was indulging in a slight leg pull there I confess. However, do try listening to the Minkowski Smittims. The wind playing with growly, guttural bassoons gives huge pleasure. There is a real taste of the south.

[MickyD]

I was indulging in a slight leg pull there I confess. However, do try listening to the Minkowski Smittims. The wind playing with growly, guttural bassoons gives huge pleasure. There is a real taste of the south.

A big thank you for flagging up this one, Sir Velo, it obviously escaped me when it was first released. I've just snapped up a copy and look forward to hearing it.
One mustn't forget that Minkowski himself was a superb bassoon player before he took up conducting... I'm sure he insisted that they made their mark in his recording !